Golf club



Nov. 3, 1934.

c. B. JOHNSON GOLF CLUB Filed March 9. 1928 ATTORNE round the gol club neck with atighotliy 5 re-enforcing band which is mold Patented-Nov. 3, 1931 UNITED STATES PAT ENT orslcs CHARLES B. JOHNSON, 0! MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ABBIGNOR TO GREAT LAKES GOLT GOBPQBAT'ION, OI MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN Application died Iaroh 9,

ential recess around the neck for reventing- 1'0 cracking or splitting of theneck urin the subs uent attachment of the shaftand ater use 0 the club.

Another ob'ect of the invention is to surfitting into a circumferential recess formed around the neck.

A further object is to form the neck reenforcing band by die casting metal around the neck.

I A further object is to re-enforce the reduced upper end of the neck by means of a wire serving or whipping having a band molded thereabout.

A further object is to protect and re-en' force the thin upper edge of the neck by a band molded about the upper portion of the neck and extending above the neck.

The invention further consists in the several features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by the annexed claims.

The accompanying drawin illustrates a fragmentary portion of a gol club embodying the invention, partsbeing broken away 85 and parts being shown in longitudinal sec- GOLF CLUB 1m. Serial a... 200,518.

about the club head neck 11, preferably adacent the lower end portion of the neck. The annular groove 13 receives therein a reenforcing band or collar 14 which fills the groove to tightly engage the bottom and side walls thereof, and the outer surface of the band 14 is preferably flush with the exterior surface of the neck. The band 14 is cast or molded in lace into the groove 13 and is preferably ormed of metal introduced into the groove by a die casting operation. The metal employed for this purpose is preferablv an alloy'of suitable tensile stren -h,' an it is found in practice that the die casting can be accomplished without charring the wood. The bottom wall of the groove may have indentations 15 formed therein to receive the die cast metal and thereb lock the band in place against turning. l'hese indentations maybe omitted however, since a slightly rough surface of the bottom wall'of the groove or a slightly oval shape of the bottom wall will accomplish the same purpose. The cast metal band 14 on coolin contracts and places the tubular wooden neck 11 under com ression, thereby preventing cracking or sp ittin of the neck. The exterior surface of the and 14 may be finished in any suitable manner to provide a neat appearance, and preferably the band contrasts in appearance with the adacjent finished surface of the wood.

In the event that a preformed metal band is to be used, the band may be inlaid into the annular'groove about the neck by a pressing or squeezing operation, this operation serving to fill the groove with the metal and also placing the metal band under peripheral tension to tightlv encircle the neck. It is also possible to form the re-enforcing band 14 by molding bakelite into the annular groove about the neck, but this material is not so satisfactory for this purpose as metal.

The tapered neck 11 of the club head is provided with a reduced upper end portion 16 der 17 and the thin upper edge of the neck.

A re-enfofcing band or sleeve 19 is placed over the whipping 18 in engagement therewith, and extends from the shoulder 17 which it tightly engages to a point above the thin upper edge of the neck. The band 19 lies flush with the tapered outer surface of the club head neck 11 and forms a continuation of this outer surface, while the inner surface of the band above the upper edge of the shank forms a continuation of the walls of the bore 12 in the neck. The band or sleeve 19 is molded in place and is preferably formed of metal which is diecast about the upper end portion of the neck. In the casting operation the metal enters the interstices of the wire whipping 18, serving to hold both the hand and whipping firmly in place. The cast metal band 19 on cooling contracts and places the wood in the thin upper end of thetubular neck under compression to prevent cracking or splitting of the neck. The exterior surface of the band 19 may be finished in any suitable manner.

In assembling the golf club, pered neck of the club head has fitted thereon the bands 14 and 19. The lower tapered end portion of a tubular metal shaft 20 is received within the tapered bore 12 in the club head neck 11 to tightly engage the walls thereof, and also fits tightly within the thin upper portions of the band 19. A wooden plug 21 is received within the lower end of the'tubular shaft to tightly engage the walls thereof, and the upper end of the plug preferably extends beyond the plane of the band 14. An attaching screw 22 is threaded into the heel portion of the head to pass trans versely through the tubular shaft 20 and through the wooden plug 21 therewithin, and serves to retain the shaft in its tightly fitting relation within the neck 11 against relative rotation. The lower ends of the shaft and he hollow ta- 1. A golf club comprising a head having a shaft-receiving neck, a whip ing surrounding said neck, and a re-enforcmg band molded onto said whipping to surround said neck.

2. A golf club comprising a head having a CHARLES B. JO HN SON.

' plug are then cut on a bias to lie flush with the bottom surface of the club head. Another effective manner to prevent splitting or cracking of the neck and thereby insure a permanently tight connection between the clubhead and its shaft. The invention further provides a means whereby the neck of the club head may be finished in a neat and ex editions manner.

Yhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 

